QU Women's Rugby Rolls To 64-3 Win Over Norwich

Saturday, September 17

Northfield, Vt. / Dog River Rugby Pitch

11:00 AM

Quinnipiac University

Norwich

9/17/2016 12:59:00 PM | Women's Rugby

By: QU Sports Information

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Nine different players converted tries, including two apiece from junior Ilona Maher and sophomore Emily Roskopf, as the defending national champion Quinnipiac women's rugby team rolled to a 64-3 road win over Norwich on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Bobcats improve to 3-0 on the season and stretch their winning streak to nine matches dating back to last year. Norwich, which fell to Quinnipiac in last season's national semifinals, falls to 1-2 on the new season with the loss.

Quinnipiac, which shut out AIC 44-0 last week, has outscored its opponents 123-3 since trailing Army 19-17 at the half in its opener on Sept. 1. The Bobcats outscored the Black Knights 15-0 after halftime for a 32-19 win, and have not allowed a try in either of the last two contests, as Norwich only managed a penalty conversion late in the first half for its only three points.

Maher had the first two tries for the Bobcats, sandwiched around a penalty conversion from senior Madison Gegeckas to make the score 13-0. Junior Rebecca Haight then darted into the try zone up the left side to stretch the lead to 18-0, before junior Flora Poole took a pass from junior Mason Johnson behind midfield and ran 70 yards for another try to give Quinnipiac a commanding 25-0 lead (run pictured). Norwich managed to kick its penalty conversion through the uprights with a minute left in the half to make the score 25-3 at intermission.

The Bobcats kept the momentum going in the second half, carrying the ball down to the goal line, before senior Tayler Schussler was able to plunge in to stretch the Quinnipiac advantage to 30-3. Freshman Mikah Maples then picked up her second try in the last two weeks when she ran up the middle to extend the margin to 35-3.

Johnson then dove in for her first try of the season straight off of a scrum to keep the Bobcat run going. Roskopf added two second-half tries, both on long runs, while Karee Helgerson and Jessica Maricich added tries as well to make the final score 64-3.

"We knew out of the gate that Norwich would be relentless in the rucks and fight for possession," stated Head Coach Becky Carlson. "Our adjustments in patience paid off with consecutive scores. The tries were spread out amongst many Bobcats with several solid individual performances across the board."

Quinnipiac will be back in action next Saturday when it faces Notre Dame (Ohio) in a match that will be played at Founder's Field in Pittsburgh, as the Bobcats will try to push their winning streak to 10 matches.